Fuel pump



FUEL PUMP Filed Aug. l0, 1945 IN V EN TOR.

HTraH/VE KS.

any;

Patented Mar. 8, 1949 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE V, 2,464,136@4 FUEL PUMPl Cornel-ins VanrRansltDearborn, Mich. A Appunti@ August 16, 194.5,Sernin. 616,076 24 claims. (ci. 10s-15o) The invention relatesgenerally.tointernalfcombustion engines and it has particular relationto a fuelpump; v f ,q

,.'luel pumps employing pulsating diaphragms are generally used inmotor-vehicles .for the purpose of supplying'fuel tothe carburetor.These pumps are operated, as alrule, bycam means on the, engine camshaft.-;'I`l'ie` present invention is concerned with a fuel pump of thisgeneral character. v l

-Oneobject of the invention is-to provide an im* provedi type offfuelpump employing a pulsating diaphragmv-Wherein the inlet and-outletvalves are arranged ina-unitary subassembly which may be inexpensivelymanufactured and readily installed... v 7 ,i

,Y Another object of the invention is to provide an improved typeof'fuelfpump whereinn the valve assembly and diaphragm are held inAposition between two separablepartsof the casing whereby assembly of theparts is simplied and facilitated. another object o f the invention isto provide a fuel pump having'an -improvedltering means which mayreadily be inserted and removed. f

Another objectr of the-invention is to provide a fuel 'pump which is soconstructed that vapor chambers arerprovided both at the inlet andoutlet sidesof the pump. ,i Y' f Other objects of the inventionwill'become apparent from .the followingspeciiication, from thedrawings-relating thereto, and from the claims hereinafterset-,forth .Yt l. 1

For a better understandingY ofn'the Vinvention reference may be hadtothel drawings wherein:

figure, y1 is a cross-sectional View illustrating a fuelpump constructedaccording to one form of the invention;V fr v .-Fig. 2 is a plan View ofthe structure shown by Figp-l; and;` 'L i* l M i f .igt-3, is aA vsideelevational view partly-in crosssection, showinga pump constructedaccording to another form of the invention.`

`l'eierring to Fig. l, the vpump comprises a casingfhaving a-lower partlli and an upper part II, and these parts offthe casinghave iianges I2.and i3 fastened together by screws I4.l The casing thus providedisidivided by a diaphragm I6 having a Kmarginal portion I] fclamped,between the anges i2 and i3. This diaphragm is constructed oixsuitablematerial euch'as alsynthetic rubber having a high resistance to theaction of hydrocarbon fuels, it is iiexible sothat it may be movedrelative. to its marginal portion..` The diaphragmV-is'vheld betweenvtwo metalfdisks I8 and I9, and these are connected at their centers bya pin having collars 2| and 22 at opposite sides of the'disks. A t 1 x Yy `A spring` 24: encircling thepin normally urges the-diaphragm upwardlyland such spring at its upper end engages the disk I9 and at its lowerend it seats in a recess 25 ina lower wall 26 of the part l2 ofthecasing. Below the diaphragm, the pin 2b projects downwardly through atubular boss 27 projectingupwardlyrfromthe'wall 26 and the lower end ofthe pin is flattened and is provided with an elongated eye-28. The endof the pinfis located within an'rauXiliary chamber 29 in part l? ofl'the casing andfwithin this auxiliary cham-v ber a bell crank 3B vislocated. This bell crank is pivoted on a-pin 3l A`journalled in oppositewalls ofwthe auxiliarychamber 29 and one `end of the bell crank projectsthrough the eye 28 in the The bell crank is normally urged inacounterclockwise'` direction by a spring 32 engaging at one en'dale'g 34onthe-bell crank, and at its other end aseat 35 on the-'casing wall. Asocket 38 is carried by the opposite'endof the bell crank and suchsocket is-'adapted to be-moved by 'a stem 40 operating frcmthe camshaft. From the construction so `far described, it `should be evidentvthat iii-'the `pin 40 is'ireciprocat'ed, the bell crank likewise'will bereciprocatedfand in turn the diaphragm will be moved upwardly anddownwardly.- At the same time, it should be evident that if thediaphragm f is held' in a lower position by fuel pressure above thediaphragm, the bell crank can continue its movements 'due' 'alto theelongated opening'Z, and vif the pressureis suflicient the diaphragm mayremain idle: It follows also that the. stroke of the diaphragm may beprogressively shortened as the pressure above the diaphragm increases.

' The parti I of the casing includes an inner Wallv 4I which formsan'outer'vapor and fuel chamber 43 and Van inner vapor and Ifuel chamber44. Fuelf'entersfthe inner-chambers by means of a fuel inlet 45 andthenflows through the chamber 44 and'then downwardly into the chamber 43.

Flow ofthe fuel from the one chamber into the other is controlled by'avaivesubassembly which comprises ana upwardly bowed metal disk 48 hav`ing a marginal portion 49 clamped between the flanges'i 2 `and i3; andif desired va gasket 50 may be` provided between the marginal portion ofthe disk and thelange i3. It is evident that the edge ot-the diaphragmacts vas-aseal at the opposite side oi the disk.' At it's'center, thevalve disk 48 has an upwardly'projectingtubular projection 52 and thistubular projection terminates in a reduced bore 53 so as to provide avalve seat 54. The bore 53 is adapted to be closed by a valve plate 55which is urged upwardly by a spring 56, and this spring in turn rests onthe base of an inverted cup shaped element 51 press fitted into thelower part of the projection 52. The base of the cup is provided with aplurality of openings 69 so that fuel may flow through the cup. Thevalve plate 59 constitutes the inlet valve and when it is unseated, fuelflows downwardly past the plate and through the openings 66 to the spaceabove the diaphragm.

Fuel is adapted to iiow upwardly through the disk 48 and into thechamber 43 through a plurality of outlet openings 62 in the disk, andthese openings are adapted normally to be closed by a ring plate 64surrounding the tubular projection 52 on the disk. This ring plate isurged downwardly by a tapered ycoil spring 65 seating at its lower endagainst the ring plate and having its Y upper end coil contracted intoan annular groove -66 in the wall of the tubular projection.

In order to seal the upper end of the tubular projection 52 to the innerwall 4I of the casing, the lower end of the latter has an upwardly andinturned conical wall portion 19 and a synthetic rubber sealing ring 1Iis provided on the upper end of the tubular projection for engagementwith the tapered wall. At its upper end the conical wall 10 joins acylindrical Wall 19 and the latter terminates in a smaller cylindricalportion 14 thereby providing a shoulder 15. This shoulder supports acylindrical filter 1-6 having a lower end plate 'l1 resting on theshoulder and an upper end plate 19 which is pressed downwardly by aspring 89. The filter and spring are slidably mounted on the cylindricalportion of the upwardly projecting housing and the spring is normallyurged downwardly by a cover 8l at the upper end of the chamber 44. Thiscover is secured in place by a screw 82 which is threaded downwardlyinto the upper end of the cylindrical portion 14. A plurality of slots83 in the wall of portion 14 permit the fuel to flow from the chamber 44into the cylindrical portion 14.

When the diaphragm moves downwardly, the valve plate 55 is drawn fromits seat and fuel flows past this plate into the space above thedaphragm. All fuel entering the inlet 45, of course, passes through thefilter 1B before it can flow downwardly past the valve plate 55. On theupward movement of the diaphragm, the valve plate closes and then thepressure of the diaphragm on the fuel forces the ring plate 64 upwardlyto allow the fuel to flow into the chamber 43. From this chamber thefuel flows through an outlet 85 shown in Fig. 2 which communicates withthe lower part of the chamber 43.

It is evident that the upper parts of the chambers 43 and 44 serve asvapor chambers so as to minimize vapor lock both at the inlet and outletsides of the pump. It is also evident that the lter may easily beinstalled and replaced simply by removing the screw 82. Also it isevident that the valve assembly is,carried entirely on the disk 48 andthus it may be easily installed and replaced. Assembly of all the partsmay be affected by placing the valve assembly and diaphragm in positionand then placing the upper casing part Il in position and then securingthe two parts of the casing together by the screws I4.

The construction shown by Fig. 3 has the same diaphragm and valveassembly and filter arrangement as that shown by Fig. 1. However, inthis case the lower end of the pin Ell'engages one arm of a bell crankpivoted as indicated at 9| in the lower part of the casing and theopposite end of this bell crank indicated at 92 is engaged by a pin 93slidable in a tubular part 94 -of the casing. The outer end of this pinhas a head 95 engaged by a cam 96 on the cam shaft in the engine and thepin normally is urged against the cam by a coil spring 91 seatingagainst the head 95 on the pin and against a collar 98 on a sleeve 99.This sleeve is mounted in the tubular portion 94 and serves as a bearingfor the pin 93. In other respects the fuel pump functions the same asthe construction disclosed in Fig. 1.

Although more than one form of the invention has been illustrated anddescribed in detail, it will be apparent to those skilled in the artthat various modifications may be made Without departing from the scopeof the claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A fuel pump comprising a casing having an annular outer Wall and anannular inner wall forming chambers one within the other, the inner wallhaving a tapered wall portion at one end, a valve plate extending acrossthe casing at one end of the chambers and connected to the outer wall,means sealing the plate to the tapered wall at the end of the innerchamber, and means for effecting a pump action to force fuel from one ofthe vchambers to the other.

2. A fuel pump comprising a casing having an annular outer Wall and anannular inner Wall forming chambers one within the other, the inner wallhaving a tapered Wall portion at one end, a valve plate extending acrossthe casing at one end of the chambers and connected to the outer Wall,means sealing the plate to the tapered wall at the lend of the innerchamber and comprising a rubber sealing ring carried by the 40 plate andengaging the tapered wall, and means for effecting a pump action toforce fuel from one of said chambers to the other.

3. A fuel pump comprising a casing having an annular outer Wall and anannular inner wall forming chambers one within the other, the linnerwall having a tapered wall portion at one end, a valve plate extendingacross the casing at one end of the chamber and connected to the outerwall, means sealing the plate to the tapered wall, valve means forcontrolling the flow of fuel between the chambers and the space at theside of the plate opposite the chambers, and means for effecting a pumpaction to force fuel from one of said chambers to the other.

4. A fuel pump comprising a casing having an annular outer wall and anannular inner Wall forming chambers one within the other, the inner wallhaving an inwardly turned, annular flange at one end, a vtubular filterdisposed in the inner chamber and seated on said flange, cover meansclosing the other end of the inner chamber, and means for effecting apump action to force fuel from one of said chambers to the other.

5. A fuel pump comprising a casing having van annular outer wall and anannular inner wall forming chambers one within the other, the inner wallbeing reversely turned at one end to provide an inner tubular post andthe post being apertured to allow fuel to flow through the wall thereof,a tubular lter. disposed on said post within the inner chamberand meansfor effecting a pump action to force fuel from one of said chambers tothe other. V

6. A fuel pump comprising a casing having an annular outer wall and anannular inner wall 'bers to the other.

`l'. A fuel pump comprising a casing including two parts havingcooperating flanges, a diaphragm, a valve plate disposed adjacent tosaid diaphragm on one side thereof, both said diaphragm and said Valveplate extending transversely of said casing and having their marginalportions secured between said cooperating fianges, said diaphragm andsaid valve plate cooperating to define a space therebetween, said casingdefining inlet anc". outlet chambers at the side of said plate remotefrom said diaphragm,

`inlet and outlet valve means carried by said plate so that Vfuel may bedrawn from said inlet chamber through said inlet valve means into saidspace when said diaphragm is moved in one direction and `'then lforcedout of said space through said outlet valve means into said outletchamber when `said diaphragm has moved in the opposite direction, andmeans for pulsating the diaphragm.

8. In a fuel pump a housing comprising an upper housing member and alower housing member, a pumping diaphragm, a plate member, saiddiaphragm and .said plate member being disposed within said housing andhaving peripheral portions supported between said housing members, saidplate member being recessed to form a pumping chamber, said upperhousing member dening an inlet chamber and an outlet chamber comprisinga vapor dome extending upwardly from said pumping chamber, an inletvalve mounted on said plate member, and an outlet check valve removablysecured to the upper side of said plate to separate the pumping chamberfrom the' Vapor dome.

9. A fuel pump comprising a housing including first and second housingmembers, one of said members having inlet and outlet chamber portions, apumping diaphragm, an apertured plate `membery said diaphragm and saidplate member being disposed within said housing and supported betweensaid housing members and defining a pumping chamber, and inlet andoutlet valve means mounted on said plate member adapted to Acontrolcommunication between said'inlet and outlet chamber portions and saidpumping chamber.

10. A fuel pump comprising a housing including first and second housingmembers, one of said members having inlet and outlet chamber portions, apumping diaphragm, an apertured plate member, said diaphragm and saidplate member vbeing disposed within said housing and supported Abetweensaid housing members and defining a pumping chamber, and means carriedby said plate and including inlet and outlet valve means adapted tocontrol communication between said inlet and outlet chamber portions andsaid pumpl ing chamber and means extending between said through saidpumping chamber.

11. A fuel pump comprising a housing includ- ,1 ing upper and lowerhousing members, said upper housing lmember having an inlet chamberportion and an' outlet chamber portion, a pumping diaphragm, a platemember having an annular sealengagerncnt with said. diaphragm andcooperating therewith inwardly of said engagement to define a .pumpingchamber, said plate and said diaphragm being disposed within saidhousing and supported between said housing members, and inlet and outletvalve means mounted on .said Lplate member adapted to controlcommunication between said inlet and outlet chamber portions and saidpumping chamber.

12. A fuel pump comprising a housing including upper and lower housingmembers, said upper housing member having an inlet chamber portion ,andan 4.outlet chamber portion, a pumping diaphragm, a vplate member havingan annular sealing engagement `with said diaphragm, said plate memberbeing disposed above said dia- -piiragmand having a portion inwardly ofsaid en `sagement offset upwardly to fc a pumping aamber, said .plateand said diaphragm being rdisposed within said housing and supportedbetween said housing members, and inlet and outlet valve .means on saidplate member adapted to control communication between said inletandoutlet chamber portions and pump- ;ing v chamber.

13. A fuel pump comprising a housing including upper and lower housingmembers, said upper housing ymember having an inlet chamber por- -tionand an outlet chamber portion, a pumping diaphragm, a -plate memberhaving an annular sealing engagement with said diaphragm, said platemember being disposed :above said diaphragm and having a portioninwardly of said ,engagement offset upwardly and cooperating withsaiddiaphragm to define a pumping chamber,

Said plate and said diaphragm being disposed within. said housingandsupported between said housing members, inlet and outlet valve meansmounted on said plate member adapted to conltrol communication betweensaid inlet and outlet vchamber portions and said pumping chamber,

said housing members having registering flange portions, `said plate andsaid diaphragm having `peripheralportionsf disposed between said anges,yand means for securing said iianges together to gripsaid peripheralportions.

14. A fuel pump comprsinga housing including anupper housing member anda lower housing membena pumping. diaphragm, a plate member, saiddiaphragm and. said plate member being havinga `central openingtherethrough and other openings@ therethrough inl spaced relation tosaid -central openingvalve means on said plate member disposed betweensaid upper housing member A,and said pumping chamber, said valvemea-usincluding' .means controlling communication between said chamberand said upper ho men .ber through said central opening and means con--r trolling communication .between said chamber and saidupper housingmember.` through said other` openings.

l5. A fuel pump comprising a housing includ- 'ing an` upper housingmember having inlet and loutlet chamber portions and a lower housingmember, a pumping diaphragm, a plate member,

Vsaiddiaphragm and said plate member being disposed within said housingand interposed between vsaid housing members, said plate member beingrecessed toform a pumping chamber andA having 7 a central openingtherethrough adapted to communicate with one of said chamber portionsand having other openings therethrough adjacent said central opening andadapted to communicate with the other of said chamber portions, valvemeans on said plate member disposed between said upper housing memberand said pumping chamber, said valve means including means controllingcommunication between said pumpingv chamber and one of said chamberportions through said central opening and means controlling the flow ofuid between said pumping chamber and the other of said chamber portionsthrough said other openings.

16. A fuel pump comprising a housing including an upper housing memberand a lower housing member, a pumping diaphragm, a plate member, saiddiaphragm and said plate member being disposed within said housing andsupported between said housing members, said plate member being ofsubstantially uniform thickness, and having a central openingtherethrough and other openings therethrough in spaced relation to saidcentral opening, said plate member having an 01T- set portion forming apumping chamber and terminating at its inner periphery in a cylindricalportion surrounding said central opening, valve means on said platemember including means mounted on said cylindrical portion forcontrolling the flow of fluid between said pumping chamber and saidupper housing member through said central opening in one direction andmeans for controlling the flow of fluid between said pumping chamber andsaid upper housing member through said other openings in the oppositedirection.

17. A fuel pump comprising a housing including an upper housing memberhaving an inlet chamber portion and an outlet chamber portion and alower housing member, a pumping diaphragm, a plate member, saiddiaphragm and said plate member being disposed within said housing andsupported between said housing members, said plate member being ofsubstantially uniform thickness and having a central openingtherethrough and other openings therethrough in spaced relation to saidcentral opening, said central opening being adapted to communicate withone of said chamber portions and said other openings being adapted tocommunicate with the other of said chamber portions, said plate memberhaving an offset portion forming a pumping chamber and terminating atits inner periphery in a cylindrical portion surrounding said centralopening, valve means on said plate member including means mounted onsaid cylindrical portion for controlling the flow of fluid between saidpumping chamber and said one of said chamber portions through saidcentral opening in one direction and means for controlling the flow ofiluid between said pumping chamber and said other of said chamberportions through said other openings in the opposite direction.

18. A fuel pump comprising a casing including a pair of housing membersand means for holding said housing members together, said casing havingan outer annular wall and an inner annular wall forming chambers onewithin the other, a valve plate extending across the casing and havingits marginal portion gripped between said housing members, springpressed valve means on the plate for allowing fuel to flow through theplate in one direction from one chamber, spring pressed valve means onthe plate for allowing fuel to flow through the plate in the otherkdi-Arection to the other chamber, annular means sealing said inner wall tosaid valve plate around one of the valve means, and means for effectinga pump action to force fuel from one of said chambers to the other.

19. A fuel pump comprising a casing including a pair of housing membersand means for holding said housing members together, said casing havingan outer annular wall and a concentric inner annular Wall, said Wallsforming a central inlet chamber and an annular outlet chambersurrounding said inlet chamber, a valve plate eX- tending across thecasing and having its marginal portion gripped betwen said housingmembers, spring pressed valve means on the plate for allowing fuel toflow through the plate in one direction from said inlet chamber, springpressed valve means on the plate for allowing fuel to flow through theplate in the other direction to said outlet chamber, annular meanssealing said inner wall to said valve plate around one of the valvemeans, and means for effecting a pump action to force fuel from saidinlet chamber` to said outlet chamber 2D. A fuel pump comprising acasing including a pair of housing members and means for holding saidhousing members together, said casing having an outer annular Wall andan inner annular wall forming chambers one within the other, the outerchamber having an upper annular portion aifording a pressure dome, avalve plate extending across the casing and having its marginal portiongripped between said housing members, spring pressed valve means on theplate for a1- lowing fuel to flow through the plate in one directionfrom one chamber, spring pressedlvalve means on the plate for allowingfuel to iiow through the plate in the other direction to the otherchamber, annular means sealing said inner wall to said Valve platearound one of the valve means, and means for effecting a pump action toforce fuel from one of said chambers to the other.

2l. A fuel pump comprising a casing including a pair of housing membersand means for holding said housing members together, said casing havingan outer annular wall and an inner annular wall forming chambers onewithin the other, a valve plate extending across the casing and havingits marginal portion gripped between said housing members, a diaphragmextending across said casing and having its marginal portion grippedbetween said housing members, said yplate and said diaphragm cooperatingto define a pumping space, spring pressed valve means on the plate forallowing fuel to iiow through the plate in one direction from onechamber, spring pressed valve means on the plate for allowing fuel toflow through the plate in the other direction to the other chamber,annular means sealing said inner wall to said valve plate around one ofthe valve means, and means for eifecting a pump action to force fuelfrom one of said chambers to the other.

22.. A fuel pump comprising a pair of housing members' havingcooperating annular anges and providing inner and outer concentric wallportios, the inner of said wall portions defining an inlet passage andsaid wall portions cooperating to dene an annular outlet passagesurrounding said inlet passage, a unitary valve subassembly adapted tocontrol the flow of fluid through said passages and comprising amounting plate eX- tending transversely of said passages and having vitsperipheral portion gripped between said flanges, said mounting platehaving an inlet opening adapted to communicate with said inlet passageand a plurality of outlet openings adapted to communicate with said.outlet passage, and inlet and outlet valve means adapted to open andclose said openings, and means for eiecting a pumping action to forceuid through said pump.

23. In a fuel pump having a pair of housing members having cooperatingannular' iianges and defining an inlet passage and an annular outletpassage surrounding said inlet passage, a unitary valve subassemblyadapted to control the flow of uid through said passages and comprisinga mounting plate having a peripheral portion adapted to be grippedbetween said flanges and having an inlet opening adapted to communicatewith said inlet passage and a plurality of outlet openings adapted tocommunicate with said out let passage, and inlet and outlet valve meanse adapted to open and close said openings.

24. In a fuel pump having a pair of housing members having cooperatingannular flanges and defining an inlet passage and an annular outletpassage surrounding said inlet passage, a unitary CORNELIUS W. VANRANST.

The following references of record in the of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date 986,122 Astrom Mar. 7, 1911 1,489,348Hampton Apr. 8, 1924 1,888,322 Lanctot Nov, 22, 1932 2,036,452 Babitchet al Apr. 7, 1936 2,344,287 Crevelling Mar, 14, 1944 2,389,159 LawtherNov. 20, 1945 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 454,110 France 1913520,903 Great Britain 1940

